Hottest New Bars, Bakeries And Breweries In Halifax

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What’s new on the city’s retail, bars, bakeries and breweries scene this month?

The owner-operator of the craft brewery and cidery that opened this week inside Elmsdale’s Sobeys says the suds-supermarket pairing is a first for Canada — if not North America.

Barry MacLeod has spent the past two decades helping scores of craft breweries get off the ground. He started out in the mid-1990s as a part-owner of Prince Edward Island-based DME Brewing Solutions — a job that saw him sell beer gear to Halifax Brewing Co., among others.

Now he’s heading up Chill Street Fresh Beer and Cider Market — an operation that features four 1,100 litre tanks within a 1,500-square-foot space glassed off from, and with a separate checkout to, the rest of the store’s interior.

On offer is cider, pilsner, wheat beer and ales, as well as samples. Visitors can also watch beverages being canned.

Down Highway 102 now, and the former Brewdabakers Tap & Grill at 287 Lacewood Dr. is set to become a private liquor store.

Colin MacDonald, the oldest son of serial entrepreneur Mickey MacDonald, is this summer moving his Cristall Wine Merchants biz from Bedford’s Sunnyside Mall into the 3,500-square-foot space in Clayton Park.

At the same time, MacDonald will rebrand as Westside Beer Wine and Spirits, and take his head count from 10 to 16 or 17.

MacDonald told The Chronicle Herald the new store will offer a five-door cooler, nine taps for refilling growlers, and a wine tasting bar for food-pairing events with the newly-renovated 24-hour Sobeys next door.

Closer to the peninsula, and Fairview is now home to Filipino resto Silong Express, at 16 Titus St.

DOWNTOWN

Café and bakery Tart & Soul has opened in the Coburg Place condo building on the corner of Oxford and Coburg Streets. Online research indicates Lisa Brow and Saf Haq are behind the bakery, having met in 2013 while studying baking at Nova Scotia Community College.

For steam bun fans, Wonderful BaoBao will soon open on Barrington Street, down by Boneheads at number 1014.

Down on the corner of Hollis and Sackville streets, the Smiling Goat Organic Espresso Bar is set to open a fifth location in July, in Jim Spatz’s new 21-storey Maple apartment building. The building belongs to Southwest Properties, already the Goat’s landlord at its Bishop’s Landing location on Lower Water Street.

On the corner of Barrington and Salter streets, developer and Hamachi House owner Steve Caryi told The Chronicle Herald that he’s set to open a country bar and restaurant in August.

At 3,300 square feet, the Ruby Rhinestone will be below 2 Doors Down, in the former Cyclone Fitness space. Employing 20 or so, it’ll seat around 100, Caryi said.

Over on Argyle Street, and the Economy Shoe Shop’s newish owner Brad Hartlin — also of Bubba Ray’s — has revealed the Trailer Park Boys as his partners in the well-known bar and restaurant.

Hartlin has been partners for years in the Toothy Moose — above the shoe shop — with actor Mike Smith, who plays Bubbles in the homegrown TV show.

Together, they brought producer Gary Howsam and the show’s remaining leads, J.P. Tremblay and Rob Wells, in on the purchase of the shop from Victor Syperek.

Speaking to The Chronicle Herald, Hartlin said he is planning to build a new pub in the basement, the former Seahorse Tavern space.

He and the foursome are spending $1 million to $2 million to renovate both bars and build the new basement one, he said.

The Shoe Shop is getting fresh paint, an improved patio, new lighting and furniture and new kitchen kit, he said. And the Moose, meanwhile, is set for new floors, lighting and an upgraded stage.

Hartlin plans to film live music and comedy events at the venues, then sell them to subscribers of the boys’ online entertainment site, Swearnet.

Toronto-based teen retailer Urban Planet is heading for Barrington Street, though it hasn’t yet said where, exactly. Online research has it moving into the former Attica Furnishings space.

In Historic Properties, in the former Two If By Sea space, Gahan House general manager Mike Roberts opened Grounded Coffee Bar this month.

And in Scotia Square, Sushi Tonari is now open in the food court.

WEST END

Quinpool Road has a new hangout for board gamers. Roll The Dice offers Mediterranean and Mexican food along with hundreds of games. It’s in the former Mezza space, at 6386, near the corner with Oxford Street.

Also new on Quinpool, but this time at 6303, is Six 303 Eatery.

The restaurant, scheduled to open late this month is the brainchild of Jodi Tsitouras.

The venture is a family affair, employing most of Tsitouras’s six kids, as well as her brother and sister, she told The Chronicle Herald.

Tsitouras also owns Fairview-based Magic Beings Child Care Centre, which she started more than 20 years ago.

Her husband, Angelo Tsitouras, is the son of the late Andrew Tsitouras who owned Halifax restos The Downtowner and Steak Centre.

She said she’ll serve Canadian fare such as pastas and sandwiches, and is aiming to become famous for appetizers and sharable platters.

The food will also pay homage to hubby’s Greek heritage, she said.

Over on Mumford Road, the Halifax Shopping Centre is now home to merchandise retailer RUA Sports Fanatic. The chain was started 25 years ago by Jan and Dale MacKinnon in Dartmouth’s Mic Mac Mall, a location it left in late April.

Jan MacKinnon told The Chronicle Herald that the new location, upstairs near the Apple store and Tip Top Tailors, was great for current customers and for attracting new ones also.

DARTMOUTH

Bay B Boutique has expanded beyond the north end into a second store at 145 Portland St. Hayley Mills, who co-owns the new store with commercial Realtor Adam Conter, told The Chronicle Herald she has signed a six-month lease to test the 1,000-square-foot premises between Dundas Street and Victoria Road.